From a weekend article by Tim Kirkjian on ESPN (hat tip: Nick Feely):
"I was at my senior prom when my parents ran me down and told me to come home, the Braves wanted to meet about my signability,'' Jones recalled as he prepared for a game Wednesday against the Phillies. "We went to the Olive Garden for dinner. We made an offer, they came back. We went home, I went upstairs with my dad [Larry Jones acted as Chipper's agent]. We asked for $300,000. They offered $250,000. My dad said we could get more, but I told him I wanted to play now, and I'll make money on the big league level, not with a signing bonus. The quickest way to the big leagues is to go out and play, not hold out. We met in the middle: $275,000. I was signed and sealed the night before the draft.''
Chipper Jones knew how to be a pro from day-1. I wonder how he felt when he had to share a locker room with Mr. Holdout himself, J.D. Drew. More from Chipper:
"I wasn't in a tux when my parents told me, the prom at [The] Boles [School] was more of a weekend, I was at the beach, hanging out with my friends, when word got out that my parents were looking for me, it was urgent. They said, 'Get your butt back here now!' '' Jones said with a laugh 20 years later. "My right hand was in a cast, I broke it in a fight on the field the day before our championship game. It took me two hours to get home. Twelve hours later, I was a Brave. I was playing two weeks after that.''
More great quotes from Chipper in the article. Check it out here.
3 recs | 60 comments
Chipper is, and always has been the man. He is the all time best Brave—not because he’s set huge records, but because of his unequaled personality.
When Bobby and Chipper have moved on, it will be next to impossible to fill in the massive gap of greatness.
Joseph_C - June 7, 2010
Aaron and Murphy were great Braves too, but Chipper is probably the ultimate fan favorite.
MBL1 - June 7, 2010
+1
Smoltz's Beard - June 7, 2010
And he makes hunting DVD’s too.
MBL1 - June 7, 2010
That was one of the better reads on epsn in awhile
TCfromDubVee - June 7, 2010
I liked the quote about how he, Ripken and Gwynn all made sacrifices to stay with the same team. Then he said he was pretty sure Jeter didn’t given the ungoldy deep pockets of the Yankees.
BullManUGA - June 7, 2010
my new signature :D
MBL1 - June 7, 2010
Would Jeter have made sacrifices to stay with the Yankees, if he had to? I am a Yankee hater from way back, growing up in New York rooting for the Mets. But when I think of the Yankees of the last decade or so, it is Jeter and his uncharacteristic non-Yankee personality, that makes me like him, even while hating the team he plays for.
DawgB - June 7, 2010
I hate him because he gives girls herpes.
bwellnjonesco - June 7, 2010
Sorry....
what?
frozendesert - June 7, 2010
...
Smoltz's Beard - June 7, 2010
LOL
rec’d
atl192485 - June 7, 2010
Oh yeah, this is getting green
Mr. Sanchez - June 7, 2010
greeeeeeeen
MBL1 - June 7, 2010
The Federal Baseball guy is on Lavar and Dukes today.
TradeAndruw - June 7, 2010
I tried listening to them, but Lavar is too awful…can’t take him.
Smoltz's Beard - June 7, 2010
Sorry....
what? again?
frozendesert - June 7, 2010
Derek Jeter gave Jessica Alba herpes about 3 years ago. Therefore he is an asshat.
J-Freak - June 7, 2010 via mobile
I see. Poor Jessica Alba…
frozendesert - June 7, 2010
poor me.
I was supposed to marry that ho
bwellnjonesco - June 7, 2010
Is this a fact or rumors & BS? If true not shocked since she’s nasty herself
FitzFan - June 7, 2010
Nevermind. I was thinking about Jessica Biel.
But wasn’t Alba married & pregnant 3 years ago?
FitzFan - June 7, 2010
I wish more felt this way, instead of seemingly focused solely on the one payday before accomplishing anything...
Mr. Sanchez - June 7, 2010
I sort of wish more felt that way too, but in reality, 90% of those drafted won’t get to the bigs. It’s important for them to get what they can, while they can
eaheckman10 - June 7, 2010
But is that a self fulfilling, circular thing?...
get me my pay day, and who cares if I become a big leaguer, so why bust my ass to get there since I’m already paid. Or, let me get a little taste now, and work hard towards that big payday that comes combining first round talent with a strong work ethic.
Mr. Sanchez - June 7, 2010
Ladies and Gentleman
The Scott Borasing of Professional Sports.
I hope Jason Heyward reads this article and is affected.
Cracker! - June 7, 2010
I’m sure I speak for countless Braves fans when I say that Chipper Jones made me a Braves fan. Growing up near Philly, I always took some jabs for being a Braves fan and a Chipper fan especially, but it was never hard to defend him. He was a stand up guy and a fantastic player
eaheckman10 - June 7, 2010
Same here
Made me a baseball fan, and is my favorite Braves player. Tried to imitate his right-handed swing the best I could in High School.
frozendesert - June 7, 2010
My new sig. How can one not love Chipper Jones?
<blockquote"It has never been about money for me, and it never will be about money.’’
It has always been about winning, comfort and playing for Bobby Cox. "
HEYJUDE - June 7, 2010
Be a mets fan?
MBL1 - June 7, 2010
Perhaps.
But if one is a baseball fan, one not help but love Larry.
DawgB - June 7, 2010
+1
HEYJUDE - June 7, 2010
Truth
MBL1 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
Gosh I love this guy.
More and more every day.
NCChopper - June 7, 2010
I've known
Chipper Jones as long as I’ve known the game of baseball. When he goes, I’m going to seriously regret not watching every game I could, especially when he was in his prime.
Cracker! - June 7, 2010
Olive Garden! WTF?
TradeAndruw - June 7, 2010
That was before he got his $275,000. Besides, with all you can eat salad and bread sticks, why not ?
DawgB - June 7, 2010
And around 1990, that was probably the classiest restaurant in...
the “First Coast” region (aka Jacksonville).
Mr. Sanchez - June 7, 2010
True
It is still one of my favorites.
HEYJUDE - June 7, 2010
B.C.
Before Carrabas.
10-4 - June 7, 2010
But do they have all you can eat salad and bread sticks?
DawgB - June 7, 2010
They have free stuff if you sit at the kitchen bar.
10-4 - June 7, 2010
Gotta try them, then. They opened one near me a little while back and I have been debating whether or not to go.
DawgB - June 7, 2010
we’ve gotten some big cheesy stuffed ravioli one time, and another time we got some cheese sticks that were pretty dang good.
10-4 - June 7, 2010
Such as?...
been there a few times, but never sat at the bar. What would I get if I do, instead of a booth?
Mr. Sanchez - June 7, 2010
That made me LOL. Rec’d
gondeee - June 7, 2010
My first destinct memories of Braves baseball as a 5 year old were watching Chipper. He is the reason I love not just baseball, but sports in general. I really hope the Braves can get him and Bobby one more WS ring, god knows they desrve it.
Shoert - June 7, 2010
Just steal the rings from the Yankees because they have ungodly deep pockets and can buy more.
MBL1 - June 7, 2010
tru dat
Shoert - June 7, 2010
Chipper Jones is the man.
Scott Coleman - June 7, 2010 via mobile
FTFY
atl192485 - June 7, 2010
Thanks for the H/T
Goes without saying, but Chipper is just a great player and a great person to have in your favorite organization.
I am so lucky that I got to grow up a Braves fan right when he was coming into the league and there is no doubt in my mind that he’ll still be my favorite baseball player ever when I look back 50 years from now (provided I last that long).
Class act all around, great Braves representative, not to mention a frickin’ amazing hitter.
nickfeely8 - June 7, 2010
Chip showed up to the meeting with a beer buzz and a chaw in...
also….
A) Is it a surprise he was injured at the time?
and
B) he endured his first nagging hand/wrist injury when he picked up the pen to sign
flyers13 - June 7, 2010
>:(
injuries aside, Chipper may be the best brave ever.
MBL1 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
Drafting Chipper over Van Poppel
has to be one of the best decisions any team has ever made in the draft. I know a lot of teams considered VP to be a can’t-miss arm, but there’s no such thing as a high schooler being a can’t-miss pitcher. The Braves resisted that temptation and it made the franchise.
I also love how Chipper had the good sense not to fight over a $50k difference. It’s great that he had the confidence to know he’d make that back a hundred-fold if he just played ball.
Jacob Peterson - June 7, 2010
I am thankful, every single day
For Todd Van Poppel’s ludicrous hubris.
I only wish we could prove that he and his family colluded with the A’s, just to have that on the record. It’s petty, but that’s how I roll.
Sam Jethroe - June 7, 2010
Very good read, indeed.
Need to give a hat tip to Brave Rebel who linked to this in a fan shot yesterday, though. Just sayin’…
Old Braves' Fan - June 7, 2010
I lived in Jacksonville when Chipper was drafted and attended one of the rival schools. I was in first grade at the time. He’s perhaps my favorite baseball player ever.
TonyAlmeyda - June 7, 2010
I dunno. Don’t get me wrong. I like Chipper. I’m glad he’s a Brave. He’s given everything he has for the betterment of the franchise. I guess I’m just not as enamored of him as others on here. Perhaps it’s because I grew up with Murphy, Hubbard, Ramirez, and Horner.
UMDBHIK - June 7, 2010
I grew up with those guys, too.
And I love them all, plus so many others of that era (Chris Chambliss and Gary Matthews in particular.)
I’d still put Chipper at the top of the heap among position players in my time as a Braves fan.
Sam Jethroe - June 7, 2010
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